The story of WaterRower
Inspired by water. Designed for life.
WaterRower was created from a simple idea: to recreate the experience of rowing on water in a machine that could belong naturally within the home. By combining innovative water resistance, handcrafted hardwood and considered design, WaterRower challenged what fitness equipment could look, sound and feel like.
More than 35 years and over one million rowing machines later, the same principles continue to shape every WaterRower we make.
It began with rowing
The WaterRower story began with John Duke, an engineer from Yale University and a competitive rower pursuing a place on the United States National Rowing Team.
John was also a sculptor and serial inventor with a lifelong interest in art, boat design, engineering and working with wood. His technical curiosity was matched by a strong appreciation for form, materials and the emotional response that a thoughtfully designed object can create.
John understood that the unique feeling of rowing came from moving a boat through water. He set out to recreate that experience indoors by using water itself as the source of resistance.
His work led to the patented WaterFlywheel and the creation of the first WaterRower in Rhode Island in 1988.
The result captured the rhythm, resistance and sound of rowing on water while providing an efficient and engaging way to train indoors.
Since 1988
A Different Kind of Fitness Equipment
From the beginning, performance was only part of the idea.
John did not want the relationship between the user and the WaterRower to be purely functional. He wanted people to form a lasting emotional connection with it, similar to the attachment they might feel towards a favourite piece of art or furniture.
Influenced by the honesty and simplicity of Shaker furniture, he created a rowing machine from solid hardwood with balanced proportions, purposeful details and no unnecessary decoration.
Every element served a function, but the finished machine also carried the warmth, individuality and visual presence of a carefully crafted object.
Wood was central to this vision. Its natural variation made every WaterRower individual, while its warmth and tactile character helped transform the machine from something purely mechanical into something people could value and enjoy living with.
This combination of exercise, engineering, sculpture and furniture design established the philosophy that continues to define WaterRower today.
The WaterFlywheel
At the centre of every WaterRower is our patented WaterFlywheel.
Its shaped paddles move through water inside the enclosed tank, creating smooth and responsive resistance. The harder the user rows, the greater the resistance becomes, just as a boat responds to increased effort on the water.
There are no resistance levels to set before beginning. Each stroke adapts naturally to the person rowing, making the experience accessible to beginners while remaining challenging for experienced athletes.
The movement of the water also creates the distinctive sound that has become part of the WaterRower experience.
Handcrafted in Rhode Island
WaterRower rowing machines are manufactured in Warren, Rhode Island, a coastal New England town with a longstanding tradition of American craftsmanship.
Our wooden rowing machines are made from responsibly sourced Appalachian hardwood. Each piece of wood is selected for its natural character before being shaped, finished and assembled by skilled craftspeople.
Wood provides more than visual warmth. Its natural properties help absorb sound and vibration, contributing to the smooth and quiet experience of rowing.
By bringing design, engineering and manufacturing together, we can maintain close control over the quality, performance and finish of every machine we produce.
From Invention to Global Brand
In the early 1990s, Peter King, an Australian studying at business school in London, became involved with WaterRower.
Peter had a background in mechanical engineering, manufacturing and rowing. He recognised the potential of John’s invention and became involved with the newly established UK distribution business, helping to introduce WaterRower throughout Britain and Europe.
His practical understanding of manufacturing and international business helped WaterRower move from small scale production towards a more efficient and ambitious global operation. Peter contributed to the continued development of the machine while building the distribution network needed to take it to a much wider audience.
In 1998, John Duke sold his interest in WaterRower Inc. to WaterRower UK. The businesses were brought together under Peter’s leadership, with Peter later acquiring full ownership of the WaterRower group.
Peter shared John’s belief in the product but brought a new commercial and manufacturing focus to the company. Under his leadership, WaterRower expanded its Rhode Island production, established offices around the world and developed from a distinctive rowing machine into an internationally recognised fitness brand.
The partnership of John’s original invention and Peter’s long term vision took WaterRower to new heights while preserving the principles that made the product special.
Today, more than one million WaterRower rowing machines have been sold around the world.
From one rower to a complete range
The original WaterRower established a design that has remained relevant for more than three decades, but the range has continued to evolve.
Different frames, materials and seat heights now allow customers to choose a WaterRower suited to their home, training style or professional environment. Performance technology has also developed to provide connected training, detailed workout analysis and immersive digital experiences.
Despite these developments, the fundamental experience remains unchanged. Every WaterRower continues to use water resistance to deliver a smooth, natural and engaging stroke.
Innovation is introduced where it improves the experience, without losing the simplicity and character of the original design.
Sister brands. Shared values.
The relationship between WaterRower and NOHRD began through WaterRower’s German sales and distribution business.
As customers looked for complementary fitness equipment made with the same attention to performance, materials and design, the NOHRD brand began to take shape in Nordhorn, Germany.
Today, WATERROWER and NOHRD are distinct but complementary sister brands. WaterRower remains dedicated to creating an authentic rowing experience, while NOHRD extends the same design philosophy across cardio, strength and wellness.
Together, the brands provide a complete approach to fitness, united by craftsmanship, innovation and the belief that performance equipment should enhance its surroundings.
Designed for what comes next...
WaterRower was created from a simple idea: to recreate the experience of rowing on water in a machine that could belong naturally within the home. By combining innovative water resistance, handcrafted hardwood and considered design, WaterRower challenged what fitness equipment could look, sound and feel like.
More than 35 years and over one million rowing machines later, the same principles continue to shape every WaterRower we make.
